Operation William

Operation William (18-23 July 1951) was an operation by the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force to bomb Korean People's Army positions to slow the North Korean offensive towards the Korean DMZ. The RAF began the operation by bombing KPA troops near Hamhung and Hungnam, and they proceeded to bomb North Korean armored forces in the gap between Pyongyang and Sariwon. The operation assisted the United Nations coalition forces in their advance north on Pyongyang, weakening North Korean forces on the way.

Operation
Following Operation Chorus in early July 1951, the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force attained air superiority in the Korean Peninsula, and the British decided to assist a push on Sariwon, which was the center of a gap between Pyongyang and the front lines of the Allied advance. In order to do so, the British would have to soften up the North Korean forces by bombing their armor and infantry units. On 18 July 1951, Operation William commenced as two RAF squadrons flew sorties over North Korean soldiers and artillery near Hamhung and Hungnam. One squadron, already missing planes from Operation Chorus, was lost in the operation. However, more British planes arrived to reinforce the RAF planes taking part in the operation, and the RAF proceeded to brutalize the North Korean forces in the Sariwon pocket with repeated pounding by bombs. The operation was a success, with the British, South Koreans, and Americans launching Operation Sackville to capture Sariwon shortly after.